Pete doesn't like Saratoga?!

[OKW Lover]

Well, as you can probably tell by my screen name, I love OKW. I like the away from it all feel and the large units. SSR certainly has the away from the parks feel (since its right next door) but the units are much smaller. Add to that the fact that the units are all piled into large buildings means your neighbors are really close and its noisier.

As compared to BCV, BWV, AKL or VWL, sure those places have similarly sized units, but they have interior corridors that are much nicer than SSR. And they are very close to a park, which can be convenient (especially BWV & BCV when your main goal is Epcot).

Overall, if you haven't already guessed, SSR is my least favorite of the on property DVC resorts. Not that I hate it, in fact we are staying there later this month, but I like the others better.

 

[DisneyDame27]

Saratoga Springs is our home DVC resort. Our original home resort was Wilderness Lodge. Not enought like Florida for us. The best part of that resort was the short distance to MK. The boys were young and it was great. Anyway my husband is a golfer-hence SS.
Our first trip we were in a 2 bedroom in Congress Park. Our room overlooked Downtown Disney. Back then I remember fireworks at night! I enjoyed sitting by the lake just listening and watching the beautiful lights from across the lake. Now when we go we book at The Grand Stand. Still get a 2 bedroom. The spa is FANTASTIC!!!! I know it is a very large resort you have to enjoy walking to get the most out of this huge place. I walk every morning and I did the same on vacation. I walked all the way around every morning and loved it. Also walked to OKW. It is peaceful and there is quite a bit to see believe it or not. I also got to meet people along my journey. The only complaint I have is The Artist Palette and Turf Club. The menu doesn't change and by the end of the week you've tried everything they have to offer.
I love Pete but have to disagree with him on this resort - that's my two cents.

 

[SWB]

We bought Saratoga Springs last year via the resale market sight unseen except for pictures on the web. Our first trip there was this past Saturday, May 30, 2009 and we stayed in a studio in Congress Park. Our first impressions were very nice and after staying there for four nights, it continues to be so. We enjoyed the location to downtown disney and really enjoyed the property. We did have our own car and drove ourselves everywhere. I like the proximity to 535 where there are plenty of restaurants and stores. Even though we did not use the bus system, there was a bus station in the same parking lot where we parked our car and everytime I was out there, it seemed there was a bus pulling up to the stop. I had read/heard that the bus service was lacking, but I was impressed by the amount of bus activity that I observed. Overall, we are very pleased with our purchase and look forward to staying there again in December.

Steve

 

[NancyIL]

I'm not a DVC member, but I stayed with a friend at both OKW and SSR last fall. OKW didn't impress me at all, and its age showed. SSR was much more attractive, but both were too far from the parks. I stayed with the same friend at Beach Club Villas and Boardwalk Villas on another trip, and those are in a much better location.

 

[disneykid4ever]

SSR is our home resort and we stayed there again this past May. We tried the Grandstand area this time instead of Congress Park and liked it for the proximity to the Carriage House. We found ourselves using our refillable mugs much more this trip since the Grandstand pool bar had a refilling station and the walk to the Carriage House was short. HOWEVER, the one bad thing I have to say about Grandstand is the horrible drainage problem on the walkway to the Carriage House. There is one spot right where the walkway along the drive-in to the Carriage House connects with the walkway from the Grandstand area that dips down and all the water collects there (right ON the walkway). There is no drain or any way for water to divert, so if you are walking on the walkway you literally end up in 3 inches of water. The only thing to do is go through the nearby shrubbery or divert onto the golf cart driveway. Half the time that we walked to the Carriage House and diverted onto the golf cart driveway, we met with bell services carts which were zipping around to get bags to rooms; this is not good for bell services or guests. Disney NEEDS to remedy this problem.

 

[bsusanmb]

We own at VWL and SSR, and have stayed at all of the DVC hotels in WDW. It is personal preference. I LOVE SSR. I think it is pretty, I love the colors, the setting. Our rooms have also been very quiet and private. We always stay in a one bedroom for the king size bed and whirlpool tub. I like being able to park my car close to my room. I don't do the buses, always rent a car. My time if too valuable to wait for a bus. I would never stay at the Treehouses because there is no king size bed. It's what I am used to. The bus situation there has got to be the worst. I also would be afraid of mosquitoes. I like the idea of it, but not for me.

Pete, go ahead and rant..I love it. You get to yell and tell it how it is, wish I could.

Susan